The European Defence Fund initiative EUROGUARD aims to research and develop a modular and semi-autonomous surface vessel prototype with a remote control system that could be used across Europe by the regions navies. The project reinforces the EU supply chain and enables new collaborations between European industrials and academia. The total budget for the project is 95 million EUR, with 65 million EUR provided by the European Commission and 30 million EUR contributed by participating countries. 27 organisations, with 10 European countries, including Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Norway, France, Spain, Denmark, and Sweden, are important partners in the project alongside Estonia. The vessel should be capable of autonomous navigation, obstacle and threat detection, collision avoidance, and other mission-specific tasks. The prototype must adhere to the principle of modularity, allowing it to be assembled according to specific needs or tasks. Innovation is also expected in the propulsion system, with environmental sustainability being an important keyword.
The project has kicked off in January 2024 in Estonia, see the press release here The EDF project EUROGUARD kick-off in Estonia – BWB
The prototype is to be completed by year 2027.
